Australian government defends social media ban for under 16s in court

The Australian government defended its ban on social media use by under-16s before the country’s highest court, citing risks including depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Reddit and the Sydney-based Digital Freedom Project are challenging the law, arguing that it is disproportionate and infringes the constitutional freedom of political communication. After a two-day hearing, the court adjourned on Wednesday and is expected to rule in the coming months. In force since December, the law covers platforms including Reddit, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, which can face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars for failing to take reasonable steps to remove underage accounts.